2016 Queen Elizabeth Stakes Likely for Gailo Chop

January 19th, 2016

Talented French galloper Gailo Chop more than announced himself to the Australian racing community through the recent Spring Carnival and is reportedly on track for a return to local shores to contest the 2016 Queen ElizabethStakes (2000m) on Day 2 of The Championships.

Gailo Chop has been a strong and consistent performer for trainer Antoine De Watrigant in his fourteen career starts since first appearing on course in 2013; posting eight wins and a further three minors.

Arriving in Australia in spring to contest the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) on October 25th, the Deportivo gelding was unable to match the late pace of Winx when eighth, but responded in the best way possible when taking out the talent-rich Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) only one week later.

OTI Racing’s Terry Henderson revealed the horse has fully recovered from a minor ailment that ruled him out of the Group 1 Hong Kong Cup (2000m) in December and plans are looking good for a return to Australia for the 2016 Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

“We’re expecting him to come to Sydney,” Henderson said.

“He’s perfectly fine. He’s in full work in France.

“We’re waiting on New South Wales to advise us of the arrangements, so if that looks satisfactory we’ll bring him out with another horse called Duke Of Ellington.”

OTI Racing were understandably disappointed Gailo Chop was unable to take his position in the Hong Kong Cup and Henderson revealed an ulterior plan to contest a race at Sha Tin may come to fruition after the 2016 Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

“He might go to Hong Kong on the way home,” Henderson said.

Gailo Chop returned to racing in career-best form in 2014 and 2015 and posted standout results around some of the world’s best middle distance horses.

Running fourth in the Group 1 Belmont Derby (2011m) and winning the Group 2 Prix Guillaume D’Ornano (2000m) in late 2014, Gail Chop returned in 2015 for first-up success in the Group 3 LaCoupe De Maisons Laffitte (2000m) in France in his only other start prior to the Cox Plate.

Ladbrokes.com.au is currently offering the best early 2016 Queen Elizabeth Stakes odds, for which Gailo Chop can be taken at a particularly generous quote of $17.